Folding stand



June 17, 1941.

yw. E. Ross FOLDING STAND Filed Feb. 11, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WIILNRD E. m8 s,

Jun`e 17, 1941.

W. E. ROSS FOLDING STAND Filed Feb. l1, 1939 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 waz/'Ro .mse,

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June 17, 1941. W, E, ROSS- f 42,245,325

FOLDING STAND Filed Feb. ll, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W/{LHHD E ROSS Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING STAND Willard E. Ross, Falls Church, Va.

Y Application February 11, 1939, Serial No. 256,005

(Cl. 2.0-0.5) Y

8 Claims.

This invention relates to portable folding structures and more particularly to folding stands. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the stand is constructed and arranged for use as a portable folding grand stand or bleacher. A standv of this kind is particularly desirable for use in gymnasiums and other places where it is necessary to provide a durable stand which may be removed or stored in a minimum space. f

One important object of the invention is to provide a novel portable folding stand ofthe bleacher type having panel reenforcing members which shall simulate a wall when the structure is folded or collapsed for removal or storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding structure of the character designated which shall be comparatively light in weight and occupy a minimum space when in folded position.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a folding structure of the .character designated having a novel arrangement of bracing, reenforcing and supporting members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable reenforcedr folding structure of vthe character designated 'which'shall be rigidly selfsustaining, more durable in construction and have fewer moving parts than similar devices now in use.

These and other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following specification and Vdrawings and more particularly set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective 'view of the folding stand constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention;

Fig'. 2 is a sectional view of the stand in the extended operative position; g

' Fig. 3 is'a sectional View of the parts shown in Fig. 2 in partially folded'position; Y

n Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the stand incomplete folded position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged V fragmentary 'View of a joint connection; Y

Fig. 6'is a view on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 'I--T of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the`d'r`awings, there is shown a folding |bleacher stand constructed and arranged in accordance withthe present invention. The stand comprises a base frame including a pair of laterally spaced inclined side members IIl-II which support a plurality of rows of seats in the proper horizontal position. vThis base frame is hingedly connected to a rear frame support including vertical legs`I2-I3 respectively. The rear support also includes a panel board section III which is secured to the legs to form a rigid reenforcement for the same to prevent side sway of the stand. This panel board also presents a closed wall surface section when the stand is in folded position as shown in Fig. 4, vand more fully hereinafter described. vrThe legs of the rear frame are detachably connected to the inclined frame members IIl-I I by brace hook rods I5 and IB which engage eye members I'I--I 8 on the respective members.

Positioned between the frame members III-I I and pivotally connected thereto is a plurality of seat units located in stepped relation and pivotally connected to the base frame members by .cross tie rods indicated by numerals I9, 20 and 2|. These units are of individual rigid construction and being of the same arrangement throughout, only one unit will be describedrin detail. Each unit includes a seat member 22 and a foot rest member 23 rigidly secured between end members 24 and 25.

'I'he forward ends of the end members of each unit are each pivotally connected to secondary side support members 26-21 by a similar arrangement of cross connecting tie rods indicated by numerals 28-f29 and 30. The top or upper most unit includes only they seat member as the foot restof that seat being an integral part of the next lowervunit as well understood in the art.

The side' members 26-21 for example, are maintained inthe proper operative positionrelative to the respectiverbase frame members I0-I I by a plurality of Ialigned collapsible spacer elements. Since the spacer elements for each side are ofthe same'construction, the detail arrangement for one side will be described in detail. The spacer elements for member 2`I are indicated by the numerals 3I-32 and 33 and a similar arrangement of spacing elements separates the side member Zlifrom` the" Vfrarne member 'IIL The spacer' elements 3I32 and 33 are hingedly mounted on Vthe'm'emb'er 2'I in o'rder thatv the same may be swung inwardly andout of the way when the stand is collapsed; as indicated in Fig. 3. In order to facilitate the collapsing of the stand in a'simpleV andV efcient manner, all the spacer members are connected to Va bar member 34 so that they shall move as a unit. The bar'34 is secured to the tops. of the spaced elements by screws 35 so that it shall be out of the way when the stand is in the erect as well as in the folded position. The spacer members are connected to the upper side member 21 by suitable hinge members 36, 31 and 38 as indicated in Fig. 2. To further aid in the collapsing movement of the spacer elements, a tension spring member '39 is secured to one of the elements such as 3| and the underneath part of the seat member 22. The spacer unit is retained in operative position to vertically space the seat side members and hold the seats in the proper elevated position by a bolt latch 40 mounted on the intermediate movable member 32, and engaging the edge of frame member A similar form of lat-ch retains the spacer'members on the opposite side of the stand in a similar position. The manner in which the spacer elements move from erect to collapse position is shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

One of the important features of the present invention is the novel hinged joints reenforcing structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Since all of the hinge joints for the seat units are identical in construction, only joints I9 and 28 for the lower unit will be described in detail. The arrangement is such that the side seat supporting members 26 and 21, as well as the respective base frame supporting members are clamped in rigid spaced relation and permit free and independent pivotal movement of the parallel seat and foot rest units. This is accomplished by mounting the end members 24-25 for each row of seats on a tubular metal pipe or tie member 4| which passes through the seat unit end members 24-25 in :close proximity to the seat member 22, for example, and a similar tubular member is provided for the corresponding foot rest at the base of the unit. The end of the tubular member is provided with threads 42 to receive a pair of lock nuts 43-43 to ,clamp the tubular member to the respective end members as shown in Fig. 5. The seat member and its associated foot rest are each mortised into the side member 25 as shown by numeral 44. Lock nuts 43-43 hold the parts of the seat unit in rigid relation so that they cannot accidentally separate and at the same time permit free hinging movement relative to the support frame parts as hereinafter described. v

Located in each end of the tubular member 4| is a bearing bushing 45 as shown in Fig. 5. Extending through the tubular member 4| Vand the end bushings at each end thereofl is `the rod 28 which forms the pivotal support axle for the seat units. This rod 28 is threaded at its ends as indicated by the numeral 46 to receive clamping nut members 41-48 and associated washers 49 and 5|), respectively. These lock nuts counter sunk in the sides to rigidly clamp the side frame members in rigid lateral -spaced relation independently of the seat units and at the same time provide a free axle for the movement of the seat units when the same are collapsed as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Where long lseat units are provided it is desirable to reenforce the seat and foot rests of the unit and this is accomplished by placing a wedge block between the bottom of the seat board 22 and the tubular member 4|, for example, at the said portion thereof as shown in Fig. 6. The block 5| thus placed between these comparatively rigid parts causes the same to be stressed and act as a truss and thereby further brace the structure to sway or weaken under full seating load.

Another feature of construction is the provision,

of rubber feet elements 52-52 for engaging the floor upon which the stand may be placed. This is particularly desirable for use on gymnasium or other smooth floors which might be damaged by the direct contact of the 4bare ends on the floor. Furthermore these rubber feet minimize vibration and any tendency o-f the stand to creep as a result of vibrations which are inherent in the use of such a stand.

Another important feature of a portable stand constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention is the provision of a panel board member 53 located on the underside of the inclined base frame members |0| This board is preferably an integral ply board unit similar to unit I4 and these are secured to the frame members in a convenient manner such as indicated by the screws 54--54. The arrangement of this ply board is such that it matches with the ply board section |4 when the unit is in folded position for storage against a wall or other out-of-the-Way place. In addition to the reenforcing feature of these panel board sections for the respective frames, they also provide a wall section of pleasing appearance and also enclose all of, the inside structure and any movable parts of the stand which might otherwise present an unsightly appearance. l

Another feature of particular-importance is the light weight of the structure and' the small space-width occupied by a stand of this kind when. in folded position. It will be noted that this width is the thickness of the two collapsible side supporting members and 21, as the stand seat units and all of the movable members are designed to move within the structure so that a neat appearance is presented when the stand is folded. To facilitate holding the stand in collapsed position, a hook 55 engages the eye |1. When the stand is folded against a wall, a keeper 56 is provided on the stand, and a pivoted latch 51 is mounted `in a support 58 on the wall as indicated by the numeral 59. The structure unitsthus described may be ma de in any desired seating width, but it has been found-that units six to nine feet long may be conveniently handled by a single workman in erecting and collapsing the stand. While there is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that various changes may be made therein Without departing from thev scope of the invention as set forth in the claims` The structure may include any number of rows ofV seats commensurate with the factor o-f safety of the materials used. Also any number of sections may be placed end to end and to form a complete bleacher seating arrangement for any type of gymnasium requirements and the sections may be folded to provide a partition wall, if desired'.

Having thus fully described' my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a folding stand, a fra-me including a-pair of laterally spaced apart inclined support members, a pair of correspondingvside memberseach spaced vertically from the respective support members, a `rigid seat unit having end members spaced apart by a seat board and a foot board and pivotally connected between the side members and the support members, and foldable spacer members interposed between Aeach side' whereber for retracting the spacer members when the stand is collapsed.

3. A folding stand of the character designated in claim 1 including a vertically disposed rear frame pivotally connecting the upper ends of the inclined supports, complementary ply-board reenforcing members for said frame and the underside of the inclined supports whereby a wall appearance is presented when the stand sections are folded in a vertical collapsed po-sition.

4. A folding stand of the character designated in claim 1, in which each seat unit includes a seat member and a tie member rigidly secured to respective end members, said seat unit pivotally movable relative to the inclined support members and means interposed between the seat member and the tie members to form a truss structure for the seat and foot rest members independently of the inclined support members.

5. A folding stand of. the character designated in claim 1 including means for rigidly spacing the frame support members and a seat bearing member formed on the rigid seat unit for free movement relative to the rigid spacing means.

6. A folding stand of the character described in claim 1 including a tie-rod member for rigidly spacing the frame support members, a tubular ltie-rod member for rigidly clamping the seat members as a unit, and providing a pivotal hinge for the seat units.

'7. In a foldable grandstand, a plurality of pairs of support members connected to form substantially an A frame, one pair of said members having a pair. of corresponding inclined side support members spaced vertically therefrom, individual seat and foot-rest units hingedly connected to said spaced pairs of support members, a panel member secured to the under side and adjacent the lower end of one pair of said spaced support members for a portion of the length, and a panel backing member on another pair of support members of the A frame W-heretby in folded condition the panel members lie in the same plane presenting a uniform surface.

8. A seat unit for a foldable grandstand comprising a seat member, a foot-rest member, and plate members secured to the ends of said seat and foot-rest members and of a Width suicient to include the foot and seat boards in the face thereof, each of said plate members being provided with a pair of tie-rod connectors for clamping the end plates to the seat and foot rest members, and an axle associated with the ends of the tie-rod connectors for pivotally clamping the same in spaced relation to separate frame support members.

WILLARD E. ROSS. 

